Process of and apparatus for preventing offsetting, &amp;c.



H. L. FEARN, JR.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING OFFSETTING, 8L0

APPLICATKON FILED APR. 5, I920.

Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

R. L. FEARN, JR. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING OFFSETTING, 8L0.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 5, 1920.

Patented Aug. 23, 1921.

2 SHEET SSHEET 2.

3mm?! Mow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD I1. FEAIRN, JIM, OF WASBINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMFIA, ASSIG-NOR TO I NATIONAL ELECTRICAL SUPPLY COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING OFFSETI'LN'G, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 23, 1921.-

Application filed April 5, 1920. Serial No. 371,402.

To all whomit may concern.

Be it known that I, RICHARD L. FnARN, Jr., a citizen-of the United States residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of and Apparatus for Preventing Ofi'setting, &c., of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a process of and apparatus for reventing off-setting and neutralizing statlc charges.

The present practice in printing of piling freshly printed sheets of paper one upon another frequently results ina considerable loss of paper, due to the fact that the fresh 'ink often adhere to the under side ofthe next sheet above.

In the case of presses adapted for printing on both sides of the paper, the printing operations are accomplished in two steps, each involving passing the paper between a platen roller and a type member. In this case, the side of the paper first printed on is in contact with the second platen roller during the second printing operation, a considerable quantityof fresh ink being deposited thereon. Much time and labor is necessary in order to keep the second platen roller clean, re uiring the use of certain expensive oils as so vents for the ink.

It is well known that printers ink deends upon oxidation in the process of drymg and hardening. I have found that the oxidation power of ozone is greatly increased when it is applied in the presence of heat and moisture to the substance to be dried.

An important object of this invention is to provide'means for very rapidly drying and hardenin the ink by a novel process of oxidation, tliils preventing the papers from offsetting when piled one upon another, and also preventing the deposit of ink on the second platen roller.

Another object of the invent1on 1s to neutralize the effect of static electr city generated during the printing operation.

Other objects and advantages of the 1nvention will be apparent durlng the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and 1n which l ke numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 3 1s a cross-section of'the distributing head and heating elements,

Fig. 4 is a'plan view of one of the heating elements, arts being broken away for the purpose of? illustration, and,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective of one of the distributer heads. In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my. invention, the numeral 10 designates' the first platen roller and 11 the first printing roller of a press adapted for printing on both sides of a sheet of paper, and 12 and 13 the second platen and printing rollers respectively, thereof.

Above the roller 10 at approximately the point at which the incoming paper contacts with the roller, is mounted a distributing head 14, embodying a cylinder 15, provided longitudinally adjacent the surface of the paper with a series of openin 16, for a purpose to be described. Heating elements 17 are vmounted at each side of the distributer head 14, as shown. The form of heating elements which I prefer to employ comprises layers of insulation 18, having electric resistance wires 19, interposed therebetween and. connected to a suitable source of current supply. The wires and insulation are inclosed in a metallic casing 20, the upper face 20 of which is highly polished. A substantially inverted U-shaped reflecting member 21, preferably of bronze, is provided, having its edges 22 clamped about the edgesof the casing 20, as shown. The

back 23 of the reflecting member is preferably spaced from the casing 20, providing a heat retaining space 23', and has its inner and outer faces 24 and 2 1 highly polished. The polished surfaces above referred to serve to-retain within the space 23 and reflect heat that would otherwise be lost from the upper side of the heating element. As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the distributer head 14 and heating elements 17 are spaced slightly from the paper 25,

A second distributer head 26 and heating elements 27 are mounted adjacent the paper near the point at which it passes from the second printing roller and platen. Ar-

ranged in spaced relation to the paper and on the opposite side therefrom from the head 26 and heating elements 27, I preferably employ a heat reflector 28, to reflect back to the paper any heat that is radiated therethrough. The use of this reflector is desirable, but is not necessary.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the numeral 29 designates an ozonizer of any preferred type having an inlet 30, for the air, and a conduit 31 leading therefrom and adapted to carry the ozonized air to a blower 32. The blower 32 is provided with a conduit 33, passing into a humidifier 34, containing water, steam, alcohol, ammonia, or other volatile liquids or moist fluids. The conduit 33 has its end 35 turned downwardly, and if the humidifying agent is used in liquid form, the end 35 extends below the surface of the liquid. A heater 34: preferably made up of heating elements similar to the heating elements 17 is disposed beneath the humidifier 34 to maintain the fluid therein at an elevated temperature.

An outlet pipe 36 is connected to the top of the humidifier 34: and connects with branch pipes 37 which carry the ozone into distributor heads. 14 and 26, from which it is distributed across the surface of the paper 25 through the openings 16.

In my apparatus, the ozone generated in the ozonizer 29 is blown out by the blower 32, passing into the humidifier 34 and through the humidifying agent there-in. This agent is maintained at a relatively high temperature by the heater 34'. When water is used as the humidifying agent, I prefer to maintain it at a temperature of about 160 F More volatile liquids are maintained at a lower temperature. The ozonized air takes up a considerable amount of moisture, due to the elevated temperature of the humidifier, this temperature being sufficiently high to assist in the volatilization of the fluid and to maintain the humidified ozonlzed air in a heated condition until its dellvery upon the surface of the paper through the pipes 36 and 37, and the distributer openings 16.

The elevated temperature of the ozonized air and the rapidity of the process of oxidation permit the use of different grades of ink whose use would otherwise not be possible, the heat serving to soften the thicker grades of ink and the rapid oxidation preventing the spreading of the ink upon the surface of the paper. Thus, a more sharply defined print is obtained.

In Fig. 1, the direction of travel of the paper is indicated by the arrows. It will thus be noted, in connection with the platen 10. that the ozonized air and heat will be applied to the surface of the paper, as the paper is fed to the roller and also after having passed around the roller. Thus, it will be seen that the ozonized air and heat are applied both before and after printing.

The proximity of the heating elements to the platen 10 causes the latter to absorb sufiicient heat to assist in maintaining the elevated temperature of the paper until the first printing operation is completed and neutralizing the static charge on the platen roller. The paper passes off the platen to the next platen and printing roller 12 and 13. Thus, the ink on the upper side of the paper will be dry when the paper reaches the roller 13, and no ink Will be deposited on-the platen. The process neutralizes the charge of static electricity and any static charge which Would prevent the printed sheets lying fiat, is removed. The distributer 26 and heating elements 27 satisfactorily dry the ink after the second printing operation, so that the papers Will not ofi'set when piled upon each other. The reflector 28 serves to prevent the loss of heat on the opposite side of the paper, the heat being reflected back to the paper. The refiectors, 24, 2a and 28, are preferably formed of highly polished bronze or copper.

While I have described my process and apparatus in connection with printing presses, I have found their use advantageous in drying various other substances Which depend upon oxidation in drying and hardening, such as varnish on furniture, enamel on signs, etc,

I have illustrated the distributer heads in connection with heating elements, but the use of the latter is not essential and a considerable degree of success may be obtained without the use thereof. If desired, the reflector 28 may also be eliminated.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus. described my invention, I claim:

1. The herein described process for preventing off-setting, which consists in subjecting the paper to the action of humidified ozonized air.

2. The herein described process for preventing off-setting, which consists in sub jecting the paper to the action of heated humidified ozonized air.

3. The herein described process for preventing off-setting, which consists in heating the paper and subjecting it to the action of humidified ozonized air before and after printing thereon.

4. The herein described process for preventing off-setting, which consists in heating the paper, subjecting it to the action of ozonized air, and reheating the paper. I 5. The combination with a printing press, of an ozonizer, a humidifier connected with said ozonizer, and means for delivering the humidified ozonized air to the paper as it passes through the press.

6. The combination with a printing press,

of an ozonizer, a humidifier connected with saidozonizer, and a distributer head communicating with said humidifier and arranged in proximity to the paper as it passes through the press, said distributer head comprising a casing provided with openings adjacent the paper.

7. The combination with a printing press having a platen roller, of an ozonizer, a humidifier connected with said ozonizer, a heater arranged in proximity to said humidifier, a distributer head connected With said humidifier and provided with openngs, said distributer head being arranged in proximity to the paper as it passes through the press at approximately the point where the paper comes in contact with said platen, and heating elements arranged on either side of said distributer head.

8. The combination with a printing press having a platen, of an ozonizer, a humidifier connected with said ozonizer, a heater arranged in proximity to said humidifier, a distributer head connected with said humidifier and provided with openings, said distributer head being arranged in proximity to the paper as it passes through the press at approximately the point where the paper comes in contact with said platen, and

eating, elements arranged on either side of said distributer head, said heating elements comprising a pair of insulating strips, a resistance Wire interposed between said strips, a casing surrounding said strips and said Wire, a reflecting member including a back having its edges secured to the edges of said casing, the back of said reflecting member being spaced from said casing and polished.

11 testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RICHARD L. FEARN, JR. 

